Governor Kelly Announces More Than $8.8M for Rural Road Safety Improvements
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced more than $8.8 million from the Kansas High-Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program will go to 19 rural counties to improve the safety and efficiency of roads and local roadways.
“These investments will keep roads in rural areas safe and easy to travel, something that’s essential to supporting local businesses and making life better for Kansas families,” Governor Laura Kelly said.
The HRRR program is a federally funded initiative designed to improve safety on rural roads through state and local partnerships. This year’s 19 HRRR projects were selected from 50 applications seeking $30.3 million in federal funds. Kansas HRRR funds cover 90-100 percent of the total project cost, with the counties making up the difference if necessary.
“Local agencies often do not have the resources needed to adequately address safety problems on the roads they own and operate,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed. “Working together provides opportunities for communities to strengthen their local road network to improve connections across the state.”
Projects in this program fall into one of two categories: Systemic (encompassing a local roadway network) or Site Specific. Projects in the Systemic category are 100% federally funded, and Site Specific projects are 90% federally funded.
The distribution of the $8,809,000 in HRRR funds is listed below. Funds are for Federal Fiscal Year 2025:
Barton, Systemic, $171,000
Upgrade signing on all major collectors in the SW quadrant of the county.
Cherokee, Systemic, $400,000
Upgrade signing on all major collectors in the west half of the county.
Cowley*, Site Specific, $601,000
Widen driving lanes, flatten ditch foreslopes, and install 6-inch white edge lines on 3 miles of paved major collectors.
Crawford, Site Specific, $682,000
Add SafetyEdgeTM, flatten ditch foreslopes, and install 6” white edge lines on S. 200th Street.
Ellis, Systemic, $595,000
Determine passing zones: add “No Passing” pennant signs and appropriate centerline pavement markings and install 6-inch white edge lines on 126 miles of paved major collectors throughout the county.
Ellsworth, Systemic, $345,000
Upgrade signing on all major collectors west of K-156 in the county.
Finney*, Site Specific, $546,000
Add 2-foot shoulders with SafetyEdgeTM, eliminate fixed obstacles, and install 6-inch white edge lines on Maple Street.
Graham, Systemic, $310,000
Upgrade signing on 101 miles of unpaved major collectors in the west half of the county.
Harper, Systemic, $362,000
Upgrade signing on 90 miles of major collectors west of K-14 in the county.
Kearny, Systemic, $236,000
Upgrade signing on 78 miles of major collectors north of U.S. 50 in the county.
Leavenworth*, Site Specific, $1,151,000
Add 6-foot shoulders with SafetyEdgeTM, install edge rumble strips, and extend culverts to improve the clear zone on Tonganoxie Drive between 189th and 187th streets.
Linn*, Site Specific, $351,000
Install hazard/curve signage and 6-inch white edge lines on Route 1095 between 1650 Road and K-152.
Marion*, Site Specific, $750,000
Install turf shoulders and extend culverts to improve the clear zone for 6 miles of 290th Road.
Morris, Systemic, $365,000
Upgrade signing on 97 miles of major and minor collectors throughout the county.
Pottawatomie, Site Specific, $300,000
Install 4-foot aggregate shoulders and flatten ditch foreslopes on Flush Road between Kanon Ridge Lane and Elizas Road.
Pratt, Systemic, $420,000
Install 6-inch white edge lines on 71 miles of major collectors and local roads east of U.S. 281.
Rawlins, Systemic, $548,000
Upgrade signing on 109 miles of major collectors west of K-25 in the county.
Rice, Systemic, $243,000
Upgrade signing on 59 miles of major collectors west of K-14 and south of U.S. 56 in the county.
Sheridan, Systemic, $433,000
Upgrade signing on 272 miles of major and minor collectors in the county.
* As identified in the county’s Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP).
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